Vista Hermosa Foundation
Vista Hermosa Foundation is a private foundation based in Pasco, Washington. Established by Ralph and Cheryl Broetje in 1990, it supports holistic wellbeing in vulnerable communities through grantmaking and direct charitable activities, including operating Nueva Esperanza Leadership Academy, a private Christian school for grades K–8.
Vista Hermosa Foundation at a glance
In short: Vista Hermosa Foundation gave $6.1M across 86 grants in 2024 (avg $71K), top state Maryland. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,127,430
- +7.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 86
- -6.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $71,249
- +14.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $54,084
- Total assets
- $174,948,741
- +6.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (19 of 57, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (21% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Vista Hermosa Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
The website says applications are by invitation only; the filing describes a request process and lists Joseph Akure as the contact. The website does not describe an open application process.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists grant-cycle submission deadlines of February 1, April 1, August 1, and October 1, while also stating that there are five cycles per year. The filing does not specify the year for those dates; the listed dates for 2026 have passed.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists grant-cycle submission deadlines of February 1, April 1, August 1, and October 1, while also…
- Contact
Application contact: Joseph Akure
Mailing address: 3713 East A Street, Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 546-5999
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Vista Hermosa Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Catholic Relief Services ($942K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $3.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
459 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 240 grants of 459 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Mexico, Haiti, Northern India, and East Africa as its four focus areas, with priority for community-based organizations in specific regions within those countries. Its 2024 grants also included recipients in multiple U.S. states. The largest share of grant dollars by recipient state was reported as Maryland (21%), California (13%), Washington (8%), and Pennsylvania (7%); another state category is listed as “?” (16%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 86 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Vista Hermosa Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 57 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $84K; repeat grants $119K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $77K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2022) to $16.6M (2020). In 2024 it made 86 grants totaling $6.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Relief Services Baltimore, MD | CRS Haiti Grant | $317,595 |
| Catholic Relief Services Baltimore, MD | Suraksha Grant | $313,867 |
| Catholic Relief Services Baltimore, MD | PCMED Grant | $310,873 |
| Sonje Ayiti Organization Inc Linden, MI | Sao New Grant | $206,317 |
| Beyond Borders Inc Norristown, PA | Haiti New Project Grant | $200,000 |
| Capable Mammoth Lakes, CA | Capable Grant | $200,000 |
| Kupenda for the Children Hampton, NH | Kupenda Grant | $200,000 |
| National Immigration Forum Washington, DC | NIF Final Grant | $200,000 |
| World Vision Federal Way, WA | East Africa Grant | $200,000 |
| Opportunity International Inc Chicago, IL | Oi Grant | $197,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Vista Hermosa Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $174,948,741 | $7,960,077 | $9,018,770 | $6,127,430 | 86 | $8,264,229 | $7,806,797 | $8,475,737 |
| 2023 | $164,817,667 | $6,985,739 | $8,573,044 | $5,722,320 | 92 | $7,912,682 | $6,083,921 | $7,688,253 |
| 2022 | $149,735,804 | $7,917,096 | $5,973,214 | $3,067,894 | 81 | $5,284,406 | $7,358,293 | $7,830,524 |
| 2021 | $179,888,748 | $12,479,389 | $10,593,727 | $7,983,437 | 110 | $9,780,786 | $13,032,932 | $8,475,950 |
| 2020 | $165,620,059 | $3,669,449 | $18,515,897 | $16,604,402 | 90 | — | $3,524,691 | $7,860,741 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vista Hermosa Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is “to serve, encourage and educate children and the underserved in their spiritual, community and human development.” Its website describes a focus on holistic wellbeing and community-led work, with priorities that include safe, healthy families, mindful leadership, and sustainable livelihoods. It favors rural, faith-inspired, healing-centered work and grassroots initiatives that promote healing and reconciliation.
The foundation’s 2024 filing also describes direct support for other 501(c)(3) organizations in the community through labor sharing and administrative support. Its school, Nueva Esperanza Leadership Academy, is described in the filing as a small, safe, and supportive K–8 environment grounded in servant leadership and trauma-informed practices.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work among grantees. Sonje Ayiti Organization describes its mission as uplifting the Haitian community through education, economic development, and health programs. Kupenda for the Children says it works to improve children’s lives by transforming harmful beliefs surrounding disability. Beyond Borders describes its work as building movements in Haiti and the United States, including efforts to end child slavery and prevent violence against women and girls. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 86 grants totaling $6,127,430. Grants ranged from $138 to $317,595, with a median of $54,084. Notable awards included three grants to Catholic Relief Services—$317,595 for a Haiti grant, $313,867 for a Suraksha grant, and $310,873 for a PCMED grant. Other large grants included $206,317 to Sonje Ayiti Organization, $200,000 each to Beyond Borders, Kupenda for the Children, and the National Immigration Forum, and $200,000 to World Vision.
The foundation’s website says applications are available by invitation only. Its 2024 filing names Joseph Akure as the contact for grant requests and says requests should include information the foundation requests and considers pertinent. The filing also states that grant funds may be used only for purposes allowed by the IRS and other government agencies, and not for lobbying or aiding the election of public officials.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Cheryl Broetje as president, Ralph Broetje as treasurer, Suzanne Broetje as chair, and Callie Sims as vice president/secretary. It lists Roger Bairstow, Shaun Broetje, Tyler Broetje, and Omar Escalera as board members.
Vista Hermosa Foundation is led by Cheryl Broetje, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cheryl Broetje
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Broetje
Chair
Secretary, Chair & Executive Director → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$134K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Tyler Broetje
Board Member
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$41K (2020) → $54K (2024)
Callie Sims
Vice President & Secretary
Board Member → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → Vice President & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ralph Broetje
Treasurer
Vice President → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roger Bairstow
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shaun Broetje
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Omar Escalera
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sandra Gamble (2020–2021) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $54K, to Tyler Broetje (Board Member).
Frequently asked questions about Vista Hermosa Foundation
How much does Vista Hermosa Foundation give each year?
Vista Hermosa Foundation gave $6.1M across 86 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.7M across 92 grants.
What is Vista Hermosa Foundation's typical grant size?
Vista Hermosa Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $54,084, and its average grant was $71,249, across 86 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Vista Hermosa Foundation that year got $84K on average.
Where does Vista Hermosa Foundation give grants?
Vista Hermosa Foundation's top state is Maryland, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (13%) and Washington (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (6 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants), San Diego, CA (5 grants) and Boston, MA (3 grants).
Does Vista Hermosa Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of Vista Hermosa Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 86) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Family Giving" (10 grants), "Staff Match" (4 grants) and "Oasis Grant" (3 grants).
Who are Vista Hermosa Foundation's largest grantees?
Vista Hermosa Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Catholic Relief Services ($942,335 across 3 grants), World Relief Corp of National Association of Evangelicals ($356,797 across 3 grants) and Boston Foundation Inc ($292,500 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Vista Hermosa Foundation?
Vista Hermosa Foundation reported $174.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Vista Hermosa Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “to serve, encourage and educate children and the underserved in their spiritual, community and human development.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Vista Hermosa Foundation?
The website says applications are by invitation only; the filing describes a request process and lists Joseph Akure as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Vista Hermosa Foundation's EIN?
Vista Hermosa Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1491438. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Vista Hermosa Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/vista-hermosa-foundation-morg_ca2cc251723947e4b04fe9e8df0f6f62
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911491438_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Vista Hermosa Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/vista-hermosa-foundation-morg_ca2cc251723947e4b04fe9e8df0f6f62},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Vista Hermosa Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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